THE DIFFICULTY OF FORGIVING SIN

MATTHEW 9:5

A. "FOR WHETHER IS EASIER, TO SAY, THY SINS ARE FORGIVEN; OR TO SAY ARISE AND WALK"
  1. Too often pardon has been presented as an easy gospel:
    1. As though one lightly could cry, Come, everybody and have your sins forgiven
    2. No, it is hard to forgive sins - hard for us; hard for Christ
  2. It was hard for Jesus to forgive sins because:
    1. He took sin seriously; Examples: the sin against the Holy Ghost - Matt. 12:31-32; the woman caught in the act of adultery - John 8:11
    2. He paid the supreme price to atone for sin - 2 Cor. 5:20-21; Is. 53:10-12
    3. He knew the true nature of sin - John 8:44 B. THE DIFFICULTY TO FORGIVE SIN ENVISIONED FURTHER
  3. The forgiveness of sin:
    1. Is contrary to the law of retribution - the law of sowing and reaping - Ga. 6:7
    2. The meting out of justice - Rev. 22:12
  4. Jesus found it difficult to forgive sins because He loved people:
    1. When we love some people and they are hurt by us, it is difficult for us to forgive ourselves
    2. Sin always does hurt people and Jesus knew this fact
    3. No other person ever took sin as seriously as did the Son of God - sin, our sin broke his heart
    4. He knew the harm of damage sin does to man and for that reason He hated sin
  5. To rationalize the terribleness of sin, we must consider the following sin factors:
    1. It is a terrific experience for the person that is forgiven
    2. To do somebody wrong; to be alienated from the wrong, to be ashamed of oneself and then by free forgiveness to be restored to the former relationship is most humiliating; Examples the prodigal son - Luke 15:11-32; Mephibosheth - 2 Sam. 9:8 C. THE POWER TO OVERCOME THE DIFFICULTY TO FORGIVE SIN
  6. Love - divine love:
    1. Love that was willing to pay the penalty of sin -I Pet. 2:21-25; 2 Cor. 5:21
    2. Love that covers the multitude of sin - I Pet. 4:8
  7. The effect of forgiveness is a mighty incentive to forgive sins:
    1. The forgiveness of sin affects the present life and the life in the world to come - Is. 33:24
    2. It opens the way for the restoration of a broken relationship - 2 Cor. 5:19-21; Luke 15:27
    3. It creates a new and appreciative attitude on the part of those who have received pardon - Examples: Mary Magdalene - Matt. 26:7; Luke 7:37; Saul of Tarsus - Acts 21:13
  8. The knowledge that sin is so terrible in the sight of God, that Jesus had difficulty to forgive sins:
    1. Ought to cause us to view sin in its true nature
    2. God hates sin - Examples: He punished sin with death - Gen. 3:19-22; He refused Moses to enter the Promised Land - Deut. 32:48-52
  9. There is still another great and vital truth to be found in our opening text:
    1. To forgive from the heart is divine - Micah 7:18-19
    2. That means that until and unless one is possessed of the love of God - forgiveness will be most difficult - if not impossible
    3. There are several reasons for this; sin wounds and often breaks hearts, which God alone can heal - Is. 53:53; 61:1
    4. Sin damages the relationship between people and only God can repair the damaged relationship
  10. Thus it is crystal clear that the forgiveness of sin was not easy even for the Son of God; that being true we must confess that it does not come easy for human beings


Design © John Bryant 2011